Flagler officials hear FDOT plans for I-95 interchange

JULIE MURPHYSTAFF WRITER

Published: Monday, December 3, 2012 at 6:21 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, December 3, 2012 at 6:21 p.m.

BUNNELL — Wetland mitigation, the next phase for a proposed Interstate 95 interchange at Matanzas Woods Parkway in Palm Coast, is a top priority in the Florida Department of Transportation's five-year plan.

FDOT officials offered a presentation Monday to the Flagler County Commission that included 17 priorities in the county, some funded and others not. The $1.3 million needed for the Matanzas mitigation project should be funded, officials said.

Funding for the project looks to be pretty solid, according to FDOT spokeswoman Mary Schoelzel.

The Matanzas interchange project has been in the works for more than a dozen years. County commissioners in March voted to move forward with design work, which is now about 30 percent complete. In all, construction of the interchange is anticipated to cost somewhere between $5.5 million and $7 million, County Administrator Craig Coffey has said previously, and could be completed as early as 2015.

Commissioner Barbara Revels asked Monday if the mitigation would tie in to other projects in the area. One favored by Palm Coast officials would realign Old Kings Road to allow drivers coming off the interstate direct access to north-south corridors while bypassing a residential area near Matanzas High School.

"We don't know exactly how we are going to mitigate," Coffey said. "That will probably be handled in early 2013."

Commissioner George Hanns, looking toward Palm Coast officials in Monday's audience, said public safety is the first priority of all Flagler County officials at both the county and city level.

"It's nice when we are able to talk face to face," Hanns said.

But money for changes to local roads such as Old Kings Road doesn't come from the state, Schoelzel said. That would require require federal money.

"We can only use federal funds on local roads," she said. "We go down the list until all the funds are gone. When there's no more money, there's no more money."

Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts was permitted to speak after the FDOT's presentation. He asked for the release of impact fee money from the county so that work "can be done promptly."

"I'm asking that we work together for a comprehensive solution," Netts said.

He also asked for the "four-laning" of Old Kings Road to be done before the "four-laning" of Matanzas Woods Parkway, priorities 15 and 16.

"FDOT follows your priority list. You can shift that around at any time," Schoelzel said. "We would need you to shift your priorities, though."

Coffey said the county would be willing to do that.

Palm Coast Manager Jim Landon said design work for Old Kings Road is funded and in the works.

"We are trying to make sure that funding isn't diverted," he said. "We want to make sure we have support from you for that."

<p>BUNNELL &mdash; Wetland mitigation, the next phase for a proposed Interstate 95 interchange at Matanzas Woods Parkway in Palm Coast, is a top priority in the Florida Department of Transportation's five-year plan.</p><p>FDOT officials offered a presentation Monday to the Flagler County Commission that included 17 priorities in the county, some funded and others not. The $1.3 million needed for the Matanzas mitigation project should be funded, officials said.</p><p>Funding for the project looks to be pretty solid, according to FDOT spokeswoman Mary Schoelzel.</p><p>The Matanzas interchange project has been in the works for more than a dozen years. County commissioners in March voted to move forward with design work, which is now about 30 percent complete. In all, construction of the interchange is anticipated to cost somewhere between $5.5 million and $7 million, County Administrator Craig Coffey has said previously, and could be completed as early as 2015.</p><p>Commissioner Barbara Revels asked Monday if the mitigation would tie in to other projects in the area. One favored by Palm Coast officials would realign Old Kings Road to allow drivers coming off the interstate direct access to north-south corridors while bypassing a residential area near Matanzas High School.</p><p>"We don't know exactly how we are going to mitigate," Coffey said. "That will probably be handled in early 2013." </p><p>Commissioner George Hanns, looking toward Palm Coast officials in Monday's audience, said public safety is the first priority of all Flagler County officials at both the county and city level.</p><p>"It's nice when we are able to talk face to face," Hanns said.</p><p>But money for changes to local roads such as Old Kings Road doesn't come from the state, Schoelzel said. That would require require federal money.</p><p>"We can only use federal funds on local roads," she said. "We go down the list until all the funds are gone. When there's no more money, there's no more money."</p><p>Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts was permitted to speak after the FDOT's presentation. He asked for the release of impact fee money from the county so that work "can be done promptly." </p><p>"I'm asking that we work together for a comprehensive solution," Netts said.</p><p>He also asked for the "four-laning" of Old Kings Road to be done before the "four-laning" of Matanzas Woods Parkway, priorities 15 and 16. </p><p>"FDOT follows your priority list. You can shift that around at any time," Schoelzel said. "We would need you to shift your priorities, though."</p><p>Coffey said the county would be willing to do that. </p><p>Palm Coast Manager Jim Landon said design work for Old Kings Road is funded and in the works. </p><p>"We are trying to make sure that funding isn't diverted," he said. "We want to make sure we have support from you for that."</p>